Blackberry plant--Loch Ness cultivar

ABSTRACT

This cultivar was formed by crossing two unnamed selections bred at the Scottish Crop Research Institute. The new cultivar is noted for its high yield of large, slightly glossy black fruit and its sturdy, erect or semi-erect thornfree stems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The original plant of the new variety was selected from a family ofseedlings resulting from a cross made in 1978 at the Scottish CropResearch Institute (SCRI), Dundee, United Kingdom, between two unnamedblackberry selections of complex parentage, both of which were bred atthe SCRI. The pedigree of the LOCH NESS cultivar of the presentinvention is summarized as follows: ##STR1##

The new cultivar is notable for its large fruit size, hardiness, highyield and earliness of ripening. Its performance has been evaluated atthe Scottish Crop Research Institute; the National Fruit Trials atFaversham, England; and in British Columbia, Canada. The variety may bereproduced with ease by leaf-bud cuttings, root cuttings, rooted tips ortissue culture. Continuous asexual propagation has demonstrated that itscharacteristics are stable and are transmitted without change throughsucceeding propagations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying drawings show typical specimens of the new variety incolor as nearly true as is reasonably possible to make the same in colorillustrations of this character. In each instance the photographs weremade at the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee, United Kingdom.

FIG. 1 is a mature leaf from a one-year old stem, photographed in earlyNovember 1986, and showing the stalklets which attach the leaflets tothe petiole and the leaf serrations and prominent veins.

FIG. 2 is an open flow showing the substantially white color of thepetals.

FIG. 3 is a view of four representative fruits photographed duringAugust 1983 wherein the slightly glossy appearance and the blunt-conicalshape are apparent.

FIG. 4 is a more distant view of a fruiting lateral with ripe fruitsphotographed during August 1983 showing the characteristics of the fruitand pedicel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the characteristics of thenew variety as observed at the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Colorterminology employed is to be accorded its ordinary dictionarysignificance. As will be apparent to those skilled in horticulturalscience, the colors of the leaves and stems vary with the stage ofgrowth and are useful only for general guidance. Similarly, the fruitcolor varies with the stage of ripeness.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE YEAR OLD VEGETATIVE SHOOTS

The new cultivar exhibits vigorous sturdy shoots which are erect duringthe early part of the season. These become semi-erect as growth proceedsthough the tendency to become semi-erect becomes less marked in olderestablished plants. The stems are angular, typically pentangular,thornfree and may be either green or pigmented. The immature tip portionis hairy, but hairs are inconspicuous or absent in sub-terminal parts ofthe stem. The canes usually become a deep purple in the autumn, butareas of green remain, principally towards the bases of the canes and inunexposed areas. The leaflets are five in number and attached to thepetiole by distinct stalklets. The stalklet of the terminal petiole isparticularly conspicuous. Established plants commonly produceapproximately 5 or more (e.g., 5 to 9) replacement canes from root-stockbuds.

General Habit

Strength of growth: Vigorous, sturdy shoots produced in moderate to highnumbers. Suckering in the true botanical sense does not occur, butapproximately 5 to 9 replacement canes commonly are produced fromroot-stock buds each year.

Habit of growth: Erect in early part of season, becoming semi-erectlater in young plants but only slightly so in mature plants. Branchingis common from the lower nodes.

Coloring: Medium green with areas of brownish-purple coloration.

Stem surface: Thornfree, slightly hairy at the stem apices but not insub-terminal parts and with a weak bloom.

Leaf color: Medium green, red pigments usually present in petiole andleaflet stalks.

Leaf characteristics: There are conspicuous stalklets (petiolae)attaching the five leaflets to the petiole. The stalklet of the terminalleaflet is longest, those of the middle leaflets intermediate and thoseof the basal leaflets relatively short. The leaf is flat with prominentveins and serrations.

Description of Fruiting Laterals, Flowers and Fruit

White flowers and fruits are well presented on flexible fruitinglaterals of medium length (typically approximately one foot in lengthbut are influenced by growing conditions). The fruits are blunt-conicalin configuration and large. When fully ripe they are a deep black andslightly glossy with little or no downiness. The flavor is typical ofblackberries with slight acidity. The season of ripening depends on theenvironment, but starts relatively early for a blackberry of this typeand extends over a long period.

General Description

Fruiting laterals: Usually approximately one foot in length.

Flower: Medium size with white petals.

Fruit: Large, slightly glossy, black and blunt-conical in shape. Fruitweight is typically approximately 6 grams but ranges up to approximately10 grams. Fruit dimensions commonly range from approximately 25 to 40mm. in length (often approximately 28 mm.) and from approximately 20 to28 mm. in breadth (often approximately 21 mm.).

Fruit quality; Firm with a pleasantly sharp flavor. Excellent storagecapability, but there is small tendency for frozen fruit to turn red,especially if not fully mature when picked.

Season of ripening: Extends over a long period and commences to ripenrelatively early for a blackberry of this type.

Yield: Fruit yield per plant is influenced considerably by plant spacingand rainfall. For plants spaced three feet apart in rows which are ninefeet apart a typical yield is approximately 4.5 Kg. per plant.

Disease and pest susceptibility: Has average susceptibility to commondiseases and pests that affect blackberries. No excessive susceptibilityhas been found.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blackberry substantially asherein shown and described together with the parts thereof.